The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-25
COMPANION TO THE BIBLE,
CHARLES j. GUITEAU.

|
| COMPANION TO THE BIBLE,
/ BY
CHARLES j. GUITEAU.
It is divided into six parts chapters, three
/ of which were written Il, 2, 81 in August and
| September, 1876 the fourth was written in
/ January, 1879, and the sixth in June, 1S81-the
/ fifth being copied from the Sunday Magazine.
/ The sub-titles are. THE Second Coming of
the Final Judgment. "a Reply to Attacks on
the Bible" and .'Some Reasons Why Many Per
Going Down to Perdition," and ''The
| True Seed" There is a sort of chuckle in tho
perdtion" discussion, as IL Guteau, while
writing, really delighted that some people
would have to go to sheol whether they sought
The second division of this curious collection
| is, however. the one of genuine interest. After
! the proof sheets there is page written in
| bold, scrawling chirography, which reads:
Direction to Printer
Copy Part II make the title read thus; If it
! does not does already.)
! Garfield, with letters OF commentator and
| other papers
Following is the Preface covering eight
| pages of Guiteaus manuscript. 1t begins in
| this wise:
"On February 4 was sentenced to be hanged
on June 80, 1882, for removing James A. Gar
field and herewith publish a synopsis of my
trial." Guiteau then denounces in bitter words
what ne terms ''Scovile's fool theory" and
"SpitZka's moral monstrosity" lie. The mean,
diabolcal spirit of the prosecution" which, it is
written, Convicted me-" is savacely derided.
Guteau argues that the only real issue before
the jury was who fred that shot, ], person
ally. or as the agent of the Dei,y?7 Il say" he
wrote, Clarified deserved the shot" and that
Il Gods to do it There some
bitter sneers at the Garfield gushers," winding
up with the remark that 'the Lord takes no
fancy stock in Garfield or any other man I"
This is followed by carefully compiled news
paper reports of the trial, rather, of episodes
in it, and the officially printed report of the
speech in his defense. Among the curios-
tiles of this portion of the collection is an edito-
rim Hnr tafo r11V daci arip
that Guiteaus deed saved the country from
civil war.
The letters and memorandum are in some
respects a revelations; they always curious,
generally morbid, and in some few instances, il
intended to express the genuine opinions of
their writer's, are simply hideous expressions of
mental crankery. It is charitable to suppose in
some instances that the letters only de-
signed to draw Guiteau out to
an autograph reply of some personal and pecu-
liar value If this is not true then il follows
that many persons constantly tho verge
of homicldal expression. and that many more
are SO dangerous in their Anarchistic vanity
and egotism as to be positively revolving not to
say dangerous. One of the first letters is signed
"Othello" and dated Boston. Jan. %. 1882 The
writer asks: WAS faithful to yourself the
I'd of Julyl For fidelity to ones self is all
there is of right and wrong" Again this mali
cious sophist writes: Now, if God told you to
shoot the President stick to it. Who should
know better than your
From Fort Wayne. Dec. 30, 1881, some
one signing in sympathy Christian writes:
put on its whole armor of power, and the
whole United States Treasury to convict you of
a crime of which you are not guilty. You;
nothing but the humbl instrument OF the God
who moves in mysterious way his wonders TO
perform
From Eau Clare, Wis, under the date of Jan.
20. 1882. Miss Laura B. Moore, whose chrog-
raphy is quite poor, writes to ask Guiteau if he
really believes he was doing right in removing
Garfield. Another correspondent. dating from
Yellow Springs. o.. halls the assassin ''King
Sof Stalwarts." postal card signed Friends"
dated Knoxville, assures him of the writer's
..unbounded admiration" Another. sent from
Norfolk, Va. declares tn at the ''Stalwarts of
the Old Dominion send You greeting" A Mrs.
r. c. Malvin, of Cornell, Ill, deeply deplores
your going down. grim, if unconscious. jest,
to be addressed to n convicted assassin, who be-
lieved in orthodox he'll This correspondent
desires to know, ''Will money assist your and
declares that she is widow with much prop
erty, willing to send check for thousand or
two. She asks for a lock OF his hair
From New York, bearing date. ''766 Will am
street, Feb. !, 1882, and signed w II. Akin
son." Is the following note: Il have been
close observer of your struggle with Porter
and although victory appears now with the
government. think your final success is be-
You'd all question.
On the back of this note is inscribed in Gui-
teau's handwriting, Hang the Deity if you
hang anyone"
Another cores pondent says the people srepu-
date the Bible if they don't believe in your IN
spiration' Andronaix Lingo. of Frederick,
Del, writes for autograph with eyes filed
with tears" Bertram Joyce, Box $40. Montreal.
Can. asks for autograph and offers sympathy.
Another one writes from Toronto saying he was
a native of the United States, and asks if he
Guiteau, lis in need of funds" for. 81 shall be
glad TO send you draft for a substantial
amount upon hearing from you" He adds, Il
heartily sympathize with YOU" Harrisburg
correspondent declares that he horrsfied at
first, but .since the trial has thrown light the
case. ], too, believe in your so-much- taked-of
inspiration" A CORES pendent from Minnesota
encloses $50. and hopes Guiteau may be ''par-
doned by good President" William A. ST.
Clair. of Minneapolis, offers aid and heartfelt
sympathy" An autograph hunter from Den
mark tickles the murderer's vanity by address
ing him as Sir Charles Guteau" Herbert NJ.
Beddington of Badleigh House, Waldron road
Harrow. England. wants autograph Mr..
speculation, and wants 100 or 900 of Guiteaus
cards to sell. He adds There is q strong
feeling here in the Eastward among nearly all
classes favoring your release
One Fred Miller, of GA Broadway, Brooklyn,
wanted autograph, and expressed 'admira-
alton of your character, and sympathy with
YOU Ten school children from Retasky, Mich,
wrote him in the same vein from Deer Greek,
Livingston. Mich. A Philadelphia correspond
dent argues Guiteau's innocence. and declares
that every killing is not murder II Is
ticeable throughout the volume that Guiteau has
taken pains to destroy the identity of the writer
in nearly every where political and money
sympathy is offered He does this all but
one case where a is concerned. The gush-
ing folly of his female correspondents is left as
a rule to be identified in this collection. One of
the straugest specimens IN the book is an auto
graphic description of himself. 1t reads thus:
disreputable newspapers, and have had diabol-